Molded pulp egg carton



2 SHEETS- SHEET l zjabez/m @MM F. H. SHERMAN MOLDED PULP EGG CARTON March 4Q 1952 Filed Feb. 17, 1947 LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL ON Ugg 2 www: 2 55% Y .I7 .7

Zi/2 J@ a@ f mw www f y' v1 )l q @5549 M il' v Illll Mw-' Patented Mar. 4, 1952 MOLDED PULP EGG CARTON Francis H. Sherman, deceased, late of Palmer, Mass., by Elizabeth M. Sherman, executrix, Palmer, Mass., assignor to Shellmar Products Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application February 17, 1947, Serial No. 729,168

Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in molded pulp cartons, more particularly to such cartons as produced for the packaging of eggs. This application is a continuation-impart of a copending application Serial No. 517,385, filed January 7, 1944, now abandoned.

Egg cartons of the construction shown in Patent No. 1,975,129 which are molded from a slurry of paper pulp have attained wide popularity in the trade. They have the advantage of lightness in weight and may be compactly nested for shipment and storage. A proper design of molded pulp carton is characterized by substantial `strength and resistance to rupture or collapse under load, notwithstanding its comparative lightness in weight. However, a perplexing problem of long standing is the provision of a suitable self-contained lock and bracing construction. The lack of such a locking mechanism has resulted in the use heretofore of separate metallic clips for securing the cover and bottom together.

A general object is to provide a carton comprising cooperating tray-like article-enclosing sections having incorporated therein means for preventing telescoping movement of the sections when they are in article-enclosing relation and improved means for latching the sections in said relation and for preventing relative lateral shifting thereof.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a molded pulp carton of the general type herein described, in which a bottom section having egg receiving cells or compartments is provided with a hinged cover section having a locking member provided with a marginal entrant tab which projects outwardly, the bottom section having an opening for interlockingly receiving said member, whereby :the bottom and cover sections are secured together in the closed position thereof and restrained from relative lateral shifting by a lock which is engaged with the bottom section from the outside thereof.

It is another object of the invention is to provide'a molded pulp carton of the general type herein described in which a bottom section is provided with a cup-like article-receiving cells or compartments which merge or coalesce below the upper part of the bottom, and a cover section hinged tothe bottom section for enclosing eggs placed in the cells, the bottom section having an aperture in the front wall thereof transversely in front of the reentrant zone between adjacent eggs in the merging cells atthat side, and the cover section having an integral, outwardly extending locking tab adapted to be passed through the aperture from the outside of the carton and to lie in the reentrant area between the convex surfaces of said adjacent eggs so as to lock the cover in closed position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a molded carton of the above type in which the sections are provided with coacting abutting means adapted to limit the closing movement of said sections and thereby prevent telescoping when the sections are in closed relation, together with novel, interlocking tab and aperture means on the sections for latching said sections in said closed positon and preventing relative lateral shifting thereof. l

A still further object of the invention is to provide a carton comprising coacting tray-like sections and latching means on said sections for securing the same in article-enclosing relation wherein said latching means comprises an aperture in the side of one of said sections and an integrally molded, planar tongue member on the other section havingan enlarged end which is adapted to be projected inwardly 'through said aperture from the outside thereof, and wherein said latching means is positioned between the adjacent pair of touching, rounded articles enclosed by said sections.

These and other objects of the invention will be obvious from the description of the preferred form of carton and modification thereof embodying the principles of the invention which are shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of an open molded pulp carton embodying the principle of the presen-t invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View in transverse vertical section on line 2--2 of Fig. 3, illus-l trating the locking arrangement between the cover and bottom sections when the latter are in closed relation;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan of the closed carton, further illustrating said locking arrangement;

Fig. 4 is a view in front elevation, illustrating a modied embodiment of carton incorporating the invention;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the carton of Fig. 4 with the top and bottom sections in open position as molded;

Fig. 6 is a view in transverse section along a line corresponding to line 6-6 of Fig. L5; and

Fig. 7 is a view in transverse section on line 1-1 of Fig. 4.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of the drawings, the invention is there illustrated as enibodied in a molded pulp carton I of the general type described in Patent No. 1,975,129 of October 2, 1934, but it should be understood that the invention is equally applicable. to other similar cartons, such as the molded pulp carton shown in the modication of Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive, which permits thirty cartons to be packed in a conventional type egg crate.

The carton Ill has tray-like hingedly cone nected sections which for convenience will be referred to as the bottom section II and cover section I2. The bottom section II iis provided with spaced upstanding elements I3 which are in the general shape of truncated pyramids and which coact with the connecting longitudinal and transverse partitions I4, I5 respectively, in subdividing the bottom section I I into individual, longitudinally and laterally spaced egg receiving cups, compartments br cells I6.

As clear-ly illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2, the parwhich results in the positioning of eggs which A are deposited in Vsaid 4adjoining'cells in close sideby-side relation to 'one another. A considerable compacting Iof space' is accomplished by this mergence as compared to certain known cartons in which the cells are spread out and spaced longitudinally and laterally without regard to the minimum space requirements which are important factors in cartons of the present type.

As illustrated 'in Figs. 2 and 3, the bottom section is characterized 'by reentrant Zones along the front side of the Ybottom section between adjacent cells, said Zones being thus transversely aligned with the space between the convex surfaces of eggs `disposed `in said respective, vertically merging cells. 'This iprovision affords space lfor the 'reception of the carton locking means, to be hereinafter described in detail,

' whereby locking ofthe carton sections II and upstanding external wall sections or formations bounding the latter. Outwardly extending marginal ledges `I'I define a iiange along the upper portion of the sides and ends of the bottom section and are coextensive therewith. A carton of the type possessing these ledges may be referred( to as a ledge type carton.

The diagonal andV upstanding portions ofthe outer rows oi cells Iliterminate at or merge into the inwardly directed, triangular abutments Iii which constitute inward extensions of the ledge Il. Openings i9 are formed between certain of the egg receiving cells adjacent the outer or front'side of the bottom. section and these openings preferably lie at points corresponding to the triangular abutment surfaces I-8, i. e., where the inner edge of the marginal ledge Iv'l is connectedby an -inwardly and downwardly inclined portion 20 rmerging*with the wall sections of the cells I6.

The cover section is connected to the bottom section along the rear of the latter, preferably by an integral hinge construction 2i. This cover section has an outwardly extending marginal ledge 22 around the perimeter thereof which abuts the marginal ledge Il of the bottom section in the closed position 'of "the sections. The front portion of said ledge carries an integral, elongated locking flap or flange 24 which is substantially coextensive in length with the cover section l2. Locking tongue or tab members 25 are formed integral with nap 2d and extend outwardly from the margin thereof, these members preferably having a constricted neck portion 26 and terminatingV in enlarged end portions in the form of one or more laterally extending portions 21. A

When the cover I2 is closed, its marginal ledge 22 is adapted to be brought adjacent and substantially in superposed relation to the marginal ledge Il of bottom Ysection-and the abutment surfaces IB thereon. The locking flap v'2li then will project outwardly of the margin of ledge il and may readily be bent around vsaid ledge, preferably about `a preformed bend line 2e', :into externally encompassing relation to `the ledge Il. The locking members 2e are then projected .into the openings I9 from the foutside of the carton. Each member will, upon flexing of the enlarged lateral portions vor -ears 2 thereof, pass` through the Vopening lIQ and engage the Abottom section adjacent the margin of the opening vI9 in interlocking relation therewith to positively hold the cover section to the bottom section in the, manner of a hook. Since members 2-5 vareV` of greater cross-sectional area fat their extremities than the width of the opening I9, they will, -uponspringing back into normal position after insertion in the opening, be in such i-nterlocked relation with `the bottom carton section tha-t the sections will not separate, even when the iilled carton is lifted by grasping the cover, Ybut will remain securely locked together. Y

`Since the openings I9 Yare located at the reg entrant zones or areas between adjacent, Vertically and laterally mergen-t cells of each of two pairs `of said cells, wherein `eggs may be disposed in extremely close adjacency, themembers 25 are readily projected into said openings from the carton exterior and accommodated internally .of

Vthe carton in the space `betweenthe convex surfaces of two eggs in said adjacent cells. The arrangement is such that there is Vno interference on the part of the locking means with the rbottom,

section during the closing of the cover section thereover and, accordingly, no crushing stressis do not depend upon r`eggs in v'said -cells to holdV they prevent possible 'lateral shifting'of the sec-5 tions relative to one'another. Such lateral-shifting is the primary cause-of muchcarton"failure,`

since it permits vertical telescoping of the 'doveri and bottom sectionsand resultant vcrushing. of. the "eggs, Beingpositively"locked against relative lateral shift, the loads which are imposed on the carton, as in stacking, are unfailingly sustained at the marginal ledges Il, 22 of the carton sections. Y

In Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 I illustrate the invention as embodied in a somewhat different type of carton which lacks elements corresponding to the aforesaid ledges I1 and 22, hence may be referred to as a ledgeless type. The cover and bottom sections 30 and 3l respectively of this carton are of generally rectangular outline, being provided with diagonal corners 32 as illustrated. The cells 33 of the bottom section are similar to the cells I6 of Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, in all respects. The openings 34 between adjacent pairs of said cells are positioned in the downwardly and inwardly inclined areas 35. being of the outline illustrated in Fig. 4. The cover section 30 is subdivided into two similar divisible parts by means of the central, transversely extending, preferably V-shaped groove 36, which is located in vertical alignment with a transverse line between adjacent cells 33 at the center of the carton. The ends of this groove open to the front and rear sides of the cover 30 medially of the central recesses 31 in said sides, and the triangular webs 38 at the bottom of said recesses lie coplanar with the margin of the cover section. These webs are adapted to rest on the corresponding triangular webs 39 of the bottom section. Other triangular abutment webs 40 are provided between adjoining cells of the bottom section, which are similar to the abutment surfaces I8 of the first described embodiment. At the corners thereof the cover and bottom sections are provided with outwardly extending triangular web areas 4I adapted to engage one another in the closed position of the cover and bottom sections to sustain the former.

On its front margin the cover section is provided with integral locking members in the form of laterally outwardly projecting tongues or tabs 42, each characterized by a restricted neck 43 and an enlarged head 44 having divergent linear sides. The tongues 42 are vertically aligned with the openings 34 in the bottom section and, when the cover and bottom sections are in closed relation, said tongues are bendable externally around the meeting line of the sections and inserted into the openings 34. The tongues and openings have interlocking engagement to prevent undesired withdrawal, whereby the cover and bottom sections are securely held in said closed relation. The carton is greatly strengthened by these locking elements, since relative lateral shifting, with consequent vertical telescoping and crushing, cannot occur.

The V-shaped transverse division groove 36 enables the carton to be subdivided into two equal halves, each of half-dozen capacity, when desired. It will be noted that the tongue receiving apertures 34 are located immediately adjacent the severed end of the subdivided carton half, which makes the above mentioned strengthening action effective adjacent the relatively weak and more exposed end of the carton where it is most needed.

In use, the abutment areas 38, 39, 40 and 4I which are spaced around the margins of the cover and bottom sections are adapted for abutting engagement to sustain the cover. As in the rst embodiment, relative lateral shifting of the sections is prevented by the cover locking means and the sections are maintained in vertical alignment eliminating possibility of telescoping and crushing of the carton contents.

As in the first described form, the location of apertures in the manner described aiords ample room to accommodate the locking members, notwithstanding the closely adjacent relation of cells 33, a relation which is essential in a practical commercial carton. It is possible to project the locking tongues 42 through the openings 3d from the exterior of the carton into the space between adjacent convex egg surfaces without danger of damaging the eggs and without causing said tongues to occupy egg space in the cells. Latching of the ysections is done after the same have been manipulated to fully closed and engaged relation, whereby the closelyl adjacent eggs in the bottom section are not subjected to any crushing force, either during said closing manipulation or during-the subsequent latching step.

What is claimed is:

l. A molded carton, comprising a bottom section having spaced upstanding walls intermediate the ends thereof dividing the carton into adjacent cells, said bottom section having a tabreceiving opening between said cells, a shoulder along the margin of said bottom section, a cover section secured to said bottom section, said cover section having a portion resting upon the shoulder on said bottom section, an extension on said cover section projecting outwardly from said portion, including a locking tab on the free side of said extension, said extension being bent over in encompassing relation around said bottom section margin and said tab being tucked through the opening into said bottom section between said cells.

2. An integrally molded iibrous carton of the type described, comprising top and bottom sections having pairs of side and end walls and marginal ledges projecting outwardly of the section walls, said sections being hingedly connected at corresponding walls thereof and being engageable with one another on said ledges, one of said sections having a locking flap comprising an extension of the ledge on the Wall thereof opposite the hingedly connected walls, the other section having an opening in the wall thereof opposite the hingedly connected walls, which opening is located adjacent the ledge on said ing to maintain the sections in said relation and' restrain relative lateral displacement thereof.

3. A molded pulp carton, comprising a cellular bottom section having upstanding walls forming a row of egg receiving cells, a marginal ledge on said bottom section, and a cover section secured to said bottom section, said cover section having a marginal ledge in superimposed relation with respect to said first named ledge, the ledge on one of said sections having an integral extension bent over inwardly in encompassing relation with respect to the lelge on the other of said Sections and including a portion securing said extension in said encompassing relation.

4. A molded pulp carton, comprising a cellular bottom section having upstanding walls forming a row of egg receiving cells, a marginal ledge on said bottom section, and a cover section secured to said bottom section, said cover section having a marginal ledge in superimposed relation with respect to said rst named ledge,

the ledge on one of said lsections having an integral extension bent over in encompassing relation With respect to the ledge on the other of said sections and including a portion xedly engaging said other section securing said extension in said encompassing relation, said portion interengaging said other section adjacent' the outer cells of the bottom section.

5. A molded pulp carton comprising a bottom section subdivided ,into article receiving cells and a cover section for said bottom section having side Walls and hinged along one side thereof to said bottom section, `said bottom section having abutment means V adjoining the marginal edge opposite its hinged side and a detent aperture below said last named edge, `said cover section engaging said abutment means in the closed relation of the sectons, said cover section Aside Wall opposite the hinged `side vbeing provided with an integral locking member which normally projects edgewise and outwardly thereof as a side extension vof the cover section .marginal edge, and substantially in the ,plane thereof and, when said sections :are in closed relation, is bent through a .substantial arcout of its normal `vposition around the margin of said :bottom section kand in locking engagement with said detent aperture from the exterior of the bottom section.

Y ELIZABETH M. E'ecutrz'a: :of ythe Estate of Francis H. Sherman,

Deceased.

y REFERENCES CITED The lfollowingreerences are of 'record in Vthe i'lefof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,544,311 Graftenberger June 30, .192'5 1,765,964 Berton June 24, T1930 1,975,129 Sherman Oct. 2, 1934 .2,061,064 De Reamer -c Nov. 17, 1936 2,078,438 Farnham A131227, 1937 2,093,230 Koppelman Sept. 14, 1937 2,143,536 Blau Jan. l0, 1939 .2,285,129 Schwartzberg .June 2, 1942 

